The state’s jobless
rate inched up marginally in February to 4.1 percent, from 4.0 percent in
January, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is reporting
this week.

Indiana’s labor
force increased by 7,912 in February, with 6,394 people finding jobs and
1,518 losing them, DWD said. “Indiana’s total labor force stands at over
3.32 million and the state’s 6.4 percent labor force participation rate
remains above the national rate of 63.0 percent.”

“Gains in Indiana’s
labor force participation rate are encouraging and further growth is needed
to ensure Indiana reaches its workforce potential as a state,” DWD
Commissioner Steven Braun said. “There are thousands of good-paying jobs
currently available throughout Indiana. I encourage unemployed and
underemployed Hoosiers to visit their local WorkOne Career Center to learn
more about training programs and job opportunities in their local
community.”

Private sectors
showing significant gains in February were manufacturing (+4,000); and
trade, transportation, and utilities (+2,300).

Those gains were
partially offset by losses in the leisure and hospitality sector (-3,600).

Total
private-sector employment now stands at 67,300 jobs above the March 2000
peak and was the 20th consecutive month above that peak, DWD said.

Regionally and
Locally

The jobless rate in
Northwest Indiana was, on the whole, fractionally higher in February.

In Porter County
the seasonally unadjusted unemployment rate in February was 5.7 percent, up
from 5.5 percent in January (6.6 percent in February 2016). Throughout
Porter County 4,873 people were looking for work in February, up 2.9 percent
from January (down 13.2 percent since February 2015).

In Lake County the
unemployment rate in February was 6.7 percent, up from 6.6 percent in
January (7.8 percent in February 2016). In LaPorte County the unemployment
rate in February remained stable at 6.6 percent, the same as in January (7.8
percent in February 2016).

In Chesterton the
unemployment rate in February was 5.4 percent, compared to 5.1 percent in
January (6.0 percent in February 2016). A total of 363 people was looking
for work in February, up 4 percent from January (down 9.9 percent since
February 2016).

In Valparaiso the
unemployment rate in February was 5.0 percent, up from 4.9 percent in
January (5.7 percent in February 2016). A total of 814 people was looking
for work in February, up 2.6 percent from January (down 10.6 percent since
February 2016).

In Portage the
unemployment rate in February was 6.3 percent, down from 6.4 percent in
January (7.9 percent in February 2016). A total of 1,138 people was looking
for work in February, down 2.1 percent from January (down 20.1 percent since
February 2016).

Unemployment rates
elsewhere in February:

* In Gary the rate
was 8.6 percent, down from 8.7 percent in January (9.9 percent in February
2016).

* In East Chicago
the rate rose by more than half a point, to 9.2 percent from 8.6 percent in
January (10.3 percent in February 2016).

* In Hammond the
rate was 6.8 percent, up from 6.6 percent in January (7.9 percent in
February 2016).

* In Michigan City
the rate was 6.9 percent, down from 7.0 percent in January (8.5 percent in
February 2016).

* In LaPorte the
rate fell by nearly half a point, to 6.2 percent from 6.6 percent in January
(7.6 percent in February 2016).

Alternative
Measures

The official
national unemployment rate in February was 4.7 percent, down from 4.8
percent in January (5.2 percent in February 2016).

However--according
to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics--if “discouraged workers,” all other
“marginalized workers,” and “total employed part-time for economic reasons”
are included in the tally, then the unofficial unemployment rate in February
was 9.2 percent, down from 9.4 percent in January (10.1 percent in February
2016).

“Marginally
attached workers” are those “who indicate that they want a job, have looked
for work in the last 12 months (or since the last time they worked if they
worked in the last 12 months) and are available for work.”

“Discouraged
workers” are not currently looking for work for several reasons, including
their belief that no job is available to them in their line or in their
area.

Persons employed
part-time for economic reasons are those “who want and are available for
full-time work but have had to settle for a part-time schedule.”